We can now confirm the new ST will have grippy seats and a six-speed manual

The interior of the next-generation Ford Focus ST has been spied within the Nurburgring complex, revealing how Ford plans to make its fresh Focus hotter, inside and out.

It looks to be the same vehicle snapped last week, so we don't really learn anything new about the ST's exterior design. Once again we can see the ST's chiselled front and rear bumpers, twin exhaust outlets, and more prominent side skirts.

Zooming in we can see the new ST's large alloy wheels are shod with Michelin tyres.

This time, though, our spy photography agency was able to get close enough to fire off some photos of the interior.

It also has deeply bolstered cloth seats, a leather-covered thick-rim steering, ST badging on the seats and steering wheel, and the latest Sync 3 infotainment system.

We don't know which motor will do service under the bonnet, but an adaptation of the turbocharged 2.3-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol engine from the Focus RS seems to be a good bet. It's possible, like previous generations, a diesel option will also be offered in Europe.

With so little disguise, it seems likely the new Focus ST will be unveiled at or around the Paris motor show, which takes place in October.

The high-volume parts of the new Focus range are due to go on sale in Australia before the end of the year.